And The Winner Is...

Today's winner of the AUTOGRAPHED copy of "THE SPACE BETWEEN TREES" by KATIE WILLIAMS is ...

LAUREN of SHOOTING STARS MAG!

CONGRATULATIONS LAUREN!!

You ALL have about a WEEK left to enter the ever so ADORABLE J*FLOPS GIVEAWAY! Plus, if you join the J*FLOPS Facebook Page, not only do you get to keep up with all of the upcoming contests and information, you also get + 25  points added to your score for the giveaway! Seriously, these are THE MOST adorable Flip Flops I've ever owned and they're SUPER COMFORTABLE! I know that's hard to believe, but wait until see them! Three winners will each have their dream flops soon!  OH, and don't forget that you can get 15% off RIGHT NOW until August 31st just by typing in the code PRINCESS at checkout!  Your discount will automatically be taken off! How easy is that?  At J*Flops, they'll even do custom pairs of flops...that means anything at all that you want, Jennifer can do for you! Check out their page and see for yourself!

Good Luck & Have Fun!

Lauren, You have 48 hours to get back to me with your address so that I can get you your prize! Thank you everyone for participating!  Don't forget that I have a Nook coming up for you VERY SOON! What's going to kick it off? 1,000 GFC Followers!!

Kisses and Toodles!!

Saturday Spotlight!

Well, here it is! My FIRST Saturday Spotlight since I've been back! I'm going to try to introduce you to as many new blogs and bloggers as I can! I've had a great response to The Saturday Spotlight but a slow response time in getting the questions back to me.  I will keep the feature every week that I can because I think it's important to find new blogs to read weekly and new friends to meet!  If you're interested in being spotlighted here, don't hesitate to hit the "contact me" button and I'll be sure to get right back to you!

I hope you enjoy this week's Spotlight Blog and Blogger! You certainly won't find this sweet little flower hanging around the garden...

What's Your Name? My name is top-secret classified information, but you can call me Orchid.

Alias? Orchid Forsythia

Your Blog Name? The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia

Why did You Choose that Specific Name? I chose The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia, because I thought it sounded really cool and original, plus it kind of gives my blog an air of mystery.

Where can we find you on the net? (A.K.A. Your Blog URL) - http://hauntedorchid.blogspot.com/

*Go Ahead and Look I'll Wait ...*

Can you give us a quick bio about yourself?   About me, hmm, I love to read and can practically always be found with my nose in a book. And if I'm not reading I am working on my blog.

Why did you start your blog? I wanted to share my personal thoughts on the books that I read. I’ve also found that it’s a great way to find neww books and authors that I might never have bothered looking into reading.

What is your favorite genre and/or genres? My favorite genres are YA, fantasy, mystery sci-fi, horror, and supernatural. I also have a soft spot for mangas.

Who is your favorite author? My all-time favorite author would have to be Agatha Christie, she
completely rocks. Her mysteries are some of the best I have ever read

What's your favorite book of all time? I guess I would have to say that "Death on the Nile" by Agatha Christie is my favorite book, but there’re a ton of books that are tied for second.

Has there ever been a book you've "faked" reading? No. If I didn’t like it enough to finish, I’m going to be truthful and say that I didn’t finish it.

What are you currently reading? Will there be a review/reviews in the works? I am currently reading Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. Yes, there will be a review sometime in the future for it. I am also currently
working on a review for Seeker by William Nicholson; hopefully I’ll have it up by the end of the week.

Please Name & Describe Your Blog Features:  I participate in quite a few memes,  like, Teaser Tuesday, where you post a short teaser from your current read; In My Mailbox, where you post about books and book swag that you have received, bought, or borrowed; Wish List Wednesday where you tell about a book that you are looking forward to buying. I have also begun accepting affiliates, and still have a few open slots. While I really enjoy doing memes, my favorite feature on my blog is reviews. I love reviewing books and introducing other people to new books and authors.

Describe your review system: My review system is probably one of the least complicated ones. 1 pineapple, means it was a complete waste of my time; 2 pineapples, means I just didn’t enjoy it; 3 pineapples, means it was good, but not necessarily something I’d re-read; 4 pineapples means that I really liked it; 5 pineapples means that I loved it and would recommend it to everyone.

How is your blog unique from other blogs? I think what makes my blog unique is that I review more obscure books and tend to read to the beat of my own drum.

How do you market your blog Orchid? By commenting on other blogs, and participating in challenges and guesting at other blogs.

Can you give us 3 tips about content? Tip number one: try not to include spoilers in your reviews, it tends to turn people off from reading a book where they already know the big twist. Tip number two: to keep in mind that authors are real people to, so try to keep the snarkiness to a minimum. Tip number three: Make sure you have the correct info about a book (i.e. author’s name, title, pub date…).

How about tips on Blog promotion? Two good ways to promote our blog would have to be, commenting on and following other blogs. Because you’ve got to get your blog out into the blogosphere if you want to get noticed.
Thank Youfor having me at Park-Avenue Princess. It has been a blast!

You're more than Welcome Orchid! I hope you'll continue to stop back and you know you're always welcome here! By the way, the J*Flops Giveaway and The Space Between Trees (autographed copy) Giveaway are both still open! Plus, I have some more to put up this week along with some great authors stopping by Park-Avenue Princess! Don't forget that it's almost time for me to list the Brand New Nook Giveaway, we're very close to the 1,000 Followers Celebration! 

Again, if  YOU Would Like to be a Part of The SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT just drop me a note or if you're comfortable with putting it in the comments section you can do that and I will get back to you immediately! There's a lot that we can do with the Saturday Spotlight! It's a great way to meet new people, find new blogs to read and help each other bring in new followers! I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!


KISSES and TOODLES!






Thanks,

Orchid

http://hauntedorchid.blogspot.com

Last Day for Lizzy Bleu Giveaway & Upcoming Giveaway News!

Just a little reminder that tonight at midnight is the close of this month's Lizzy Bleu $50.00 Gift Certificate Giveaway!  If you haven't visited her Etsy Shop yet, you can be transported magically by clicking right HERE! But once you do there's no turning back. I know you're going to IN on the $50.00 Giveaway as well. So, what I'm going to do is leave this link HERE for you.  That one will bring you to Lizzy's current Giveaway!

These will be happening monthly and there are SO many wonderful things about Lizzy! She will do personalized items, bookish items and she updates her items at least weekly! If you see something you like, my advice, get it! She makes not only gorgeous things but they're quality made items too.  Plus I know she packs them with love and her packaging is amazing! I know because I own a ton of her jewelry!

I also have another HUGE giveaway coming up for you and they're not just your average flip flops. They're J*Flops and talk about unlike any flip flop I've ever seen! I'm totally in love! This Review and Giveaway will be posted *Very Soon* (and I mean VERY)! So, start looking at the J*Flops site so you'll be able to tell me which pair you'd LOVE to have or customize a pair to fit your personality! Yes, that means a pair that no one else will have! Believe me, J*Flops can do it! They're unbelievable!  I LOVE mine and am having her work on two more pair for me!  This upcoming Giveaway will have TWO Winners and because J*Flops wants EVERYONE to feel like a winner and be able to try out their amazing flops, as of RIGHT NOW on the J*Flops Site if you find a pair you MUST have, type in the code PRINCESS at check out and you'll receive 15% off your order from NOW until August 31st! You and your feet will both thank me (and J*Flops!)

Also, I need you to watch your mailboxes because I do have some winners for books and I'll be waiting for your addresses so that I can send them out to the publishers or authors.  Below is the chance for you to win Katie Williams debut Autographed book "The Space Between Trees ". An amazing YA Thriller!  More books will be coming with a chance for you to win!  If you have any questions at all, please feel free to use the "Contact Me" button and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible, or if you want to leave your question in the comments section, you may do that as well.  The "Contact Me" button will be answered privately.

Oh....and one more little thing, I've got a brand new B&N Nook that one of my loyal & royal followers will win! Soon the post will be up on how YOU can win! I'd like to reach at least 1,000 GFC Followers! So, all you need to do for me right now is spread the word about Park Avenue Princess - Royal Reviews & Book News! Let them know about the Reviews, Amazing Authors that stop here, and yes the Giveaways!  Thank you all for helping Park Avenue Princess grow into what it's become today! I've met so many wonderful, caring friends here in the book blogging community, ones that I wouldn't give up for the world!  I review as a "Thank You" to all of the Authors that help me escape and bring me comfort each day.  But, I started this site to be my one voice to a community of so many amazing people.  My like-minded, book obsessed friends :)

Well, what are you still standing here for! You have TWO amazing sites to go check out! But, please do come back and tell me what you think when you're done.  :)

As Always, Good Luck and Have Fun!




KISSES and TOODLES!

Guest Katie Williams & Giveaway!

The Space Between Trees
Author: Katie Williams
Publisher: Chronicle Books

Hello Everyone!

Today I have the honor of having Author, Katie Williams here at Park Avenue Princess as part of the official blog tour for her debut book, "The Space Between Trees"! You can find my review here. I don't want to take too much time with the introduction (we all know how I love to talk), so I'm going to lend my throne, tiara, and whatever else Katie needs here in the castle to make her feel at home. I'm now going to let Katie speak to you about her phenomenal new book.  Please make her feel welcome!

A Very Bad Princess


Once upon a time there was a plain peasant girl—scuffs on her shoes, dirt under her fingernails—who was invited to sit on the princess’s throne for an entire day. That’s me, Katie Williams, scepter in hand, feeling atypically regal since our highness has invited me here to tell you about my debut novel, The Space Between Trees.

The Space Between Trees doesn’t have any princesses in it, no castles or charging steeds, nary a fairy godmother to be seen. But, like many good fairytales, it features a girl who has been overlooked.

Sixteen-year-old Evie somehow missed out on making friends, real friends anyway. She doesn’t have a boyfriend either, although she’s convinced the girls at school that she’s involved in a flourishing romance with college dropout Jonah Luks. Still, try as she might, she remains lonely, quirky, and anonymous. But all that changes when Evie spies the police pulling a murdered schoolmate’s body from the woods behind her paper route, and suddenly she’s at the center of the story everyone wants to hear. Eager for attention, Evie exaggerates her connection the dead girl, thereby drawing herself into a wrongheaded murder “investigation” that questions truth and fiction, innocence and guilt.

Perched here on my borrowed throne, I can’t help but think about princesses, and how being a princess is not about the sparkling tiaras and drool-worthy gowns (well, maybe it’s a little bit about the gowns), but is really about being kind and virtuous. After all, Cinderella was a princess on the inside way before she got the fairy-godmother makeover. By such standards, my protagonist Evie is very unprincesslike. She lies; she manipulates; she connives. And her machinations lead to serious trouble and permanent loss.

Does Evie sound like a horrible person to you? She makes some huge mistakes; it’s true. So how could I write a character who behaves so very badly? Well, I liked Evie because, despite her flaws, she was interested in the world around her and, also, she was daring. She’d do things I never would, even if some of those things were the wrong things. Furthermore, I understood Evie. Her bad behavior came from the same desires that make the princess character such an appealing fantasy: She wanted to feel special, pretty, and most of all, loved. And once I understood Evie better, I felt I could write more of her story to see where her lies led, to discover if she would eventually accept her rags and discover the secret that all true princesses know: She is special because she is herself.

You can read more about The Space Between Trees, including the first chapter, on my website, http://www.katiewilliamsbooks.com/.

Thank you SO much Katie for being here at the castle today! As a special surprise, Katie is offering one of my *Very Lucky* Loyal & Royal Readers a chance to WIN their very own AUTOGRAPHED Hardcover Copy of "The Space Between Trees"!

THE SPACE BETWEEN TREES GIVEAWAY!!

This book is going to be signed and sent from Chronicle Books

So, I ask that you have a US or Canadian Address that the

book can be sent to! It's open to anyone that FOLLOWS

with either a US or Canadian Address in which to receive the book.

Most important you must follow through Google Friend Connect!

Don't know how? Go here to get instructions!

First I'd like you to head on over to Katie Williams' web site and tell me one thing you've learned about Katie or her book or you may think of a question you'd like to ask Katie! You MUST do this step to QUALIFY! If you choose the question option, you get +25 per question you ask with a limit of TWO QUESTIONS per person. leaving you with a total of +50 for asking Katie TWO QUESTIONS that have to do with today's post, her writing, her debut novel, something VALID please!

Also to qualify, I ask that you please leave your name/nickname
in each post you leave. Something that separates you from everyone else
so that it will be clear if you are chosen as the winner. You must also leave
me with your emailing address so that you can be contacted (even if it is in your profile).

This contest is open to ANYONE that Follows with GFC - Anywhere In the WORLD!
*But, you MUST have either a U.S. or CANADIAN ADDRESS to
accept the book for you. Overseas shipping is not available for this contest!

*This Contest ends 8/13/10*

Entries

+5  If you Subscribe by Mail
+5 If you Subscribe via Google Reader

+5 If you TWEET About This Giveaway (Leave Link)

+10 If you Rate Me On Blogged (see link at bottom of blog)

+10 If you add me to your blog roll (and link it back to my blog)

+10 If you Blog about the Contest in your Sidebar (Link back)

+15 If you blog about this Giveaway in it's own post (Link back)

+20 If you Follow @APrkAvePrincess on Twitter (Leave @name)

+25 If you Put My Button On Your Blog and Link Back

So, spread the word about Park-Avenue Princess!

It's only a *Click* to Follow and We're NOT that far away!!

I've got a NOOK here with someone's name on it and

it could be yours! All I need to start the giveaway

is 1,000 GFC Followers. I also have some

Amazing Prizes coming up that

you don't want to miss!

+50 for each and every NEW follower you bring me

(They just have to mention it in their post! You will BOTH Get the Points!)

YES EVERY PERSON YOU SEND!

(All of these will be verified before they count towards your entries!!)

Separate your entries one per post! (either each or just +5 for example)

Or you will only have One Entry Regardless of What You Do!

AS ALWAYS, GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!!

KISSES and TOODLES!!

Huge Giveaway, Reviews & Ramblings

This is A Royal Rambling by Order of the Princess:

I just wanted to make a post as a little explaination, reminder and to let you know about some of the wonderful things planned for Park-Avenue Princess!  As most of you know, I was "away" for a little while due to an ongoing  personal illness and I am trying to get  Park-Avenue Princess right back to where it was so winners are being notified by email and starting with the LIZZY BLEU GIVEAWAY, which is right below this post, I will start posting winners on the blog again.  I just need to catch up! 

Speaking of the LIZZY BLEU GIVEAWAY, you still have plenty of time to enter! It's open to everyone, no matter where you live (no P.O. Boxes) as long as you are a friend on Google Friend Connect by following this blog.  This is important because Park-Avenue Princess wants her friends back and her traffic and is going to reward all of her friends by having a HUGE GIVEAWAY.

What is this HUGE GIVEAWAY you ask?  How about a Brand New B&N Nook? Would that make you happy? There will be several ways for you to win. All I'm going to need you to do is spread the word about Park-Avenue Princess and I'd like to see at least 1000 followers and we're almost there.  But, again, there will be many ways to enter.  So, you do have that to look forward to VERY soon!

The next GIVEAWAY I have for you will be from J*Flops! There will be Two winners for this Giveaway and you can design your own pair of Flip Flops and when I say they are not only ADORABLE they are MADE with love and quality as well! Starting NOW and ENDING August 31st you can use the code PRINCESS at the checkout and receive 15% off your order at the J*Flops site! I will have my review and the giveaway up VERY VERY SOON! If you sign up for updates, you won't miss it! I LOVE my pair and am going to buy myself another pair.  Who doesn't love their flops in the summer? These do not pinch between the toes and their IS a style for everyone!  You'll see what I mean!  I'd start browsing J*Flops now so you get an idea for what you want as a treat for your feet!

As for my Royal Reviews, this Princess is So behind.  She's read more books than she can count, but all of her reviews are on index cards and this week I would like to get up some wonderful books that are coming out tomorrow from CANDLEWICK PRESS! Their Spring/Summer line up is absolutely amazing!

I have so many plans in the works for Park-Avenue Princess and I'm hoping to get the changes done quickly but I can't find someone that knows exactly what I'd like.  I hope you'll stay with me and PLEASE visit often. Leave comments, I love that! Plus, here's a hint - Once I put up the Nook Giveaway, it's going to be a way to earn yourself some pretty easy points! A daily visit and a comment or two! I try to visit sites daily as well and if you'd like me to stop by yours well then just leave it in the comments!

Another thing I'd like to bring back is my SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT! That means if you are another Blogger and would like to be featured here, please hit my contact button and let me know! If you've already gotten my letter for SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT but, I never got to you, contact me and we'll work something out! 

Last order of business for now...if you've won something from me, but have not received it, Please follow THESE INSTRUCTIONS - Hit the "CONTACT BUTTON" up top and fill it out with your email address along with your name and prize and I will get back to you!

Thank You for making Park-Avenue Princess the site that it's become! I've got so much more in store and I hope you'll stay here with me and grow!


Kisses and Toodles!